Long Pip Shovel Push vs Backspin

Summary Notes

Backhand Shovel Push - Side View

The stroke should be kept simple and uncomplicated.

Swing from the elbow with a compact stroke, it's not a punch stroke where the elbow is straightened.

The focus is on using the backspin that is already on the ball, and perhaps adding to it a little, to produce a topspin return. The swing is forward and a little bit upwards to give the ball enough clearance over the net. Don't try to bend the pips with this stroke - it's not a fast enough swing to make the effort worthwhile.

The bat angle should be a little bit open, or perhaps near vertical for higher balls. If the ball is very high, it should probably be hit rather than shovel pushed.

The more backspin put on the ball by your opponent, the harder you can push, since your opponent's backspin will be turned into topspin.

It isn't necessary to use much wrist in this stroke - it doesn't help produce much more spin, and just increases the chances you might accidentally change your bat angle and make a mistake.

It is possible to introduce a sideways element into your swing in the hopes of making the ball wobble or curve in flight, and kick sideways off the table. The more backspin on the ball, the more sideways kick you can produce.

Backhand Shovel Push - Front View

Instead of trying to impart a lot of topspin by bending the pips, it is easier and more consistent to simply use your opponent's backspin to produce topspin.

Keep the stroke small but smooth - don't jerk your swing or poke at the ball.

Because the strong has a small backswing, it is harder for your opponent to anticipate which direction you are going to hit the ball. It is also fairly easy to change the direction of the ball with a small change in your wrist angle.

Don't let the ball bounce too high - generally take it a little above net height.

Don't take the ball too early - if you hit it straight off the bounce you will have to hit it up to get it over the net, and then still get the ball down on the other side - this will limit how fast you can hit the ball.

Forehand Shovel Push - Side View

Don't try to cut your stroke unnaturally short, the stroke should be short because a big swing is not needed, not because you are jerking to a stop.

A shoulder turn should still be used on the forehand side, although the amount of turn will only be small.

Use these strokes to apply pressure to your opponent. If you play too fast and aggressively, you will make too many mistakes and remove the pressure. If you play too soft and defensively, you won't apply enough pressure and your opponent will tend to attack your shovel pushes strongly.

Forehand Shovel Push - Front View

The simpler you can keep the stroke, the less that can go wrong, and the easier it will be to find the correct bat angle against different amounts of backspin.

Once the basic stroke is mastered, you can provide subtle variations by changing your timing, contact point, swing speed, and amount of wrist used.

Remember, we are using our opponent's backspin to produce topspin. We are not trying to produce topspin by bending our long pips. This gives us a topspin stroke with good consistency.

This technique is a good way to turn a pushing rally into a topspin rally, and hopefully either get a weak block from a surprised opponent, or get your opponent to push the ball without adjusting his racket angle, giving you a high return which can then be attacked.